The Pritzker Architecture Prize, established in 1979, had become a veritable selection machine for master architects, with keen vision and precise judgment while maintaining its own system. The first Pritzker Prize winner in 1979 was Philip Johnson, a representative figure of modernist architecture.
Professor McCarthy looked at these not-yet-graduated students and swallowed most of his criticism, proposing the lottery method for group assignments.
A lottery!
Daisy looked extremely nervous – this meant she could be separated from Xia.
Daisy strongly resisted this idea. She just wanted to be Xia Xiaolan’s constant companion, going wherever Xia went. Daisy was now a devoted fan – she wouldn’t worry as long as she could follow Xia Xiaolan. Even if they didn’t go to a top firm, they could still succeed, right?
But the Dark Lord’s terror was deeply ingrained, and Daisy didn’t dare object.
For the lottery, everyone needed to be present, so Richard and Lyle were also called to the office.
The top three places were distributed as follows: Xia Xiaolan’s group had 4 people, Ning Xue was alone, and Jonathan’s group with senior students had 5 people – exactly 10 people total.
“Only three firms are left competing for the Wilson Hotel project: Foster, P&W, and German GMP! GMP will only accept 2 interns, so Foster and P&W will each take 4 people. I’ll put the paper balls in the box, and you’ll draw yourselves.”
All three firms were global leaders.
Harold’s new hotel must be a major investment to attract competition from three top firms.
Xia Xiaolan couldn’t say which firm was better, but GMP only wanting two interns showed unusual confidence – weren’t they just going through the motions for Wilson Hotel?
McCarthy had the box brought up and didn’t allow any tricks. Everyone, including Xia Xiaolan, reached in and drew a paper ball.
“OK, look at your drawings carefully. Those who got Foster, step forward and write your names here.”
McCarthy pointed to the register.
Daisy stepped forward, along with Heidi, another senior student, and Lyle – these four would go to Foster. Not being with Xia Xiaolan made Daisy want to cry!
Xia Xiaolan gave her a helpless look.
“Who got GMP?”
Xia Xiaolan stepped forward, along with Matthew Carlton, a senior honors student starting his fifth year in the fall semester. Matthew was the one who had invited Jonathan to join his team.
As a fifth-year undergraduate about to graduate, if Matthew Carlton wasn’t planning on further studies, better internship opportunities meant better job prospects after graduation. Drawing GMP could lead to joining them permanently… this had been his thinking when participating in the C·W Architectural Design Competition – the prize money was secondary, what mattered was recognition from Foster and P&W.
Who knew his led design would only place third?
Neither Foster nor P&W had shown particular interest in him – inviting that kid Jonathan to team up had been a mistake!
Unexpectedly drawing GMP with exchange student Xia, Matthew’s eyes flickered as he extended his hand:
“Xia, looks like we’ll have a chance to work together!”
Xia Xiaolan shook his hand, “Senior Carlton, please guide me.”
Work together?
Sticking together at GMP for survival would be good enough – everyone knew that although the firms took them as interns, they’d mostly be serving tea, pouring water, and printing materials. Joining the design team would be extremely difficult!
The remaining students, including Ning Xue, naturally drew P&W.
Except for Xia Xiaolan and Professor McCarthy, no one knew that Ning Xue had already had an opportunity with P&W – not for an internship, but for direct employment after graduation, which she had declined.
Ning Xue preferred GMP, but Xia Xiaolan had drawn it instead – this could only be attributed to luck.
Heidi saw that Ning Xue and Jonathan would be at the same firm and glared fiercely at Ning Xue… tsk tsk, Heidi’s luck was truly terrible, losing both friendship and love in quick succession – rather pitiful, wasn’t it?
Xia Xiaolan’s sympathy lasted only a second. Wouldn’t it have been better to just be good classmates? This was a free lesson in how to be a person – in the future, don’t look down on others or run your mouth unnecessarily!
“Heidi, haven’t you forgotten something?”
Xia Xiaolan suddenly spoke up in front of everyone.
Heidi’s expression froze.
She knew what Xia Xiaolan meant – the apology. Xia Xiaolan had proposed a bet based on final grades: if Daisy, Richard, and Lyle – the “losers” – got As, and Xia Xiaolan herself got an A+, Heidi would publicly apologize to the three!
Of course, Heidi hadn’t personally agreed to this – Jonathan had.
Jonathan had been the study group’s leader then and Heidi’s boyfriend.
Now the study group was disbanded and Jonathan and Heidi had broken up. If Heidi was thick-skinned enough, she could refuse to honor the bet.
Would Heidi stubbornly refuse to apologize?
Before Heidi could step forward, Jonathan broke the silence:
“Daisy, Lyle, and Richard, I can apologize on Heidi’s behalf! I admit I underestimated your potential and abilities. You’re not losers – Professor McCarthy gave you As, which is a recognition… Xia, I acknowledge your talent and the professional foundation that Huaqing University gave you and Ning!”
This was Jonathan’s promise – accepting the loss of the bet!
After all, he had only lost one school design competition; it didn’t mean he was inferior to Xia Xiaolan and Ning Xue.
“Jonathan, Cornell University is excellent, and I admire your integrity in keeping your word.”
Heidi was humiliated:
“Jonathan, we’ve broken up – who gave you the right to apologize for me? If an apology is needed, I can do it myself!”
Heidi walked from Daisy’s side to face her directly.
“I’m sorry, you’re not a loser.”
“I’m sorry, you’re not a loser either.”
“I’m sorry…”
To Xia Xiaolan’s surprise, Heidi apologized separately to Daisy, Lyle, and Richard three times. Just as Xia Xiaolan was about to change her opinion of Heidi, she came to stand before Xia:
“I won’t apologize to you – you’re really detestable, rejecting my kind invitation! I won’t acknowledge your talent either – it was just a lucky chance. You also like to make grand claims, saying the Electronic Plaza is being built in China. I don’t want a classmate like you!”
Huh?
What kind of logic was this?
A kind invitation?
Heidi had only invited Xia Xiaolan after she had shown some of her ability. Now she was trying to make it sound like it had been an act of pity.
Xia Xiaolan had declined because she didn’t want to abandon her original group members, but in Heidi’s mouth, this became a grave mistake, a failure to recognize goodwill.
Xia Xiaolan could understand Heidi wanting to salvage some dignity in front of her ex-boyfriend, professor, and other students.
Understanding was one thing, but why did she need to step on Xia Xiaolan to do it?
Xia Xiaolan once again wondered what was wrong with people’s judgment here in America – did she really look that easy to bully?
“As I said, truth can’t be faked, and falsehood can’t become truth. You’ll see whether the Electronic Plaza is being built or not. Heidi, I need to correct one thing – whether I have talent doesn’t need your acknowledgment. Perhaps after you get your first A+, you’ll be qualified to judge me… to gain such qualification, you’ll need to work very hard!”